*38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long BeachNEW

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Christopher Pook is the founder and promoter which began as a vision while working at a travel agency in downtown Long Beach. It was the premier circuit in the Champ Car from 1996, and was the first event in the World Series each year from 2004. The 2008 race was the last race for Champ Cars as the series merged with the Indy Racing League and is now an event on the Izod IndyCar Series calendar.

The Long Beach Grand Prix in April is the single largest event in the city of Long Beach. Attendance for the weekend regularly reaches or exceeds 200,000 people.



The Long Beach Grand Prix is the longest running major "street" race held on the North American continent. It started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race on the streets of downtown, and became a Formula One event the following year. From 1984 to 2008 it was a CART/Champ Car event. Other popular events during the Grand Prix week include a Firestone Indy Lights race, an American Le Mans Series race, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. - Wikipedia

Summary Schedule
Friday - Practice
Saturday - Practice, Celebrity Race
Sunday - Actual Race Day

Date
April 13, 14, 15, 2012
(Race Day April 15 - 3:30 pm NBC Sports Network)

Schedule
Friday, April 13
7 a.m. - Gates open
7:15 a.m. - Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series (ALMS) practice
9:35 a.m. - Team Drifting Challenge
10 a.m. - IZOD IndyCar Series Practice
11:15 a.m. - Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Practice
12 p.m. - Firestone Indy Lights (FIL) Practice
2:15 p.m. - IndyCar Practice
3:30 p.m. - Toyota Pro/Celebrity Qualifying
4 p.m. - IZOD IndyCar Series Autograph Session (IndyCar Paddock - FREE to all race ticket holders)
4:15 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Practice
5 p.m. - ALMS Qualifying
6:30 p.m. - Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert

Saturday, April 14
7 a.m. - Gates open
7:15 a.m. - PWC Practice
8 a.m. - FIL Practice
8:55 a.m. - Team Drifting Challenge
10:25 a.m. - IndyCar Practice
11:40 a.m. - Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
12:55 p.m. - FIL Qualifying
2 p.m. - IndyCar Qualifying and Firestone Fast Six
3:55 p.m. - ALMS Pre-Race
4:30 p.m. - Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series Race (2 hours)
6:45 p.m. - Tecate Light Rock-N-Roar Concert Starring Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Sunday, April 15
7 a.m. - Gates open
8 a.m. - FIL Practice
8:25 a.m. - PWC Qualifying
9:15 a.m. - IndyCar Practice
10:45 a.m. - Firestone Indy Lights Race
12:30 p.m. - IndyCar Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:10 p.m. (Approx.) - Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IZOD IndyCar Series Race (85 laps)
3:40 p.m. - Team Drifting Challenge
4:15 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge Race (1 hour)